He’s in over 70 books, is a VIP at PBS (where his TV show’s going strong) and will soon have his own line of bedding and bath towels. But Arthur has never been on stage – until now.

From March 22 through April 2, you can catch the world’s most amiable aardvark – along with his best friend Buster, little sister D.W. and the rest of the gang – at Radio City Music Hall. The show is called “Arthur: A Live Adventure,” and the plot revolves around the loss of a lucky pencil.

The Post recently talked to the man whose own pencil brought Arthur to life: Marc Brown, a father of three (two grown sons and a 13-year-old daughter named Eliza) who lives in Massachusetts with his wife, illustrator and author Laurie Krasny Brown. Here’s what he had to say about where Arthur came from – and where he might be going:

Q: Why an ardvaark?

A: Why not? I remember being very tired one night and not wanting to tell my son a story, but he was pretty persistent. He said, “Tell me a story about a weird animal,” and for some reason, an aardvark came to mind. He could have just as easily have been a bunny. But once I thought of an aardvark, the name Arthur came to mind.

Q: Why did you happen to write down this particular story?

A: I had a lot of time on my hands. I just lost my teaching job – the college I had taught at closed down after 103 years. It was very sad. I had another teaching offer, but I wanted to do something with art and kids, so I tried this.

Q: Are you and Arthur alike?

A: Actually, my third-grade picture looks exactly like Arthur. We’re both optimistic, and we both have sisters who were pains in the neck – my three younger sisters altogether formed D.W. I think Arthur and I share the same predicament: that life is a series of problems and it’s how we solve them that defines the quality of our lives. I think Arthur manages to do a decent job.

Q: What’s been his biggest challenge so far?

A: Living with D.W.

Q: How has he resolved it?

A: He hasn’t. Stay tuned.

Q: Do you have any radical plans for Arthur up your sleeve?

A: He’s going to join the WWF [Worldwide Wrestling Federation] – he and Buster are packing their little backpacks as we speak. (He laughs.) I don’t know. I’m waiting for the morning he comes down in sunglasses. But I can’t imagine him being a rock star, having people pick out all the green M&M’s. Fame hasn’t affected him in a negative way.

Q: Is he nervous about his stage debut?

A: I think he’s well-rehearsed. You know Arthur – he gets very nervous about these public appearances, so he really prepares well.

Q: You’ve held a lot of jobs in the past: actor, chicken farmer and short-order cook. Did all that help prepare you for Arthur?

A: We don’t understand why things happen, but they do seem to happen for a reason. I think all those jobs gave me a better sense of being able to write and draw and be a good listener and observer.

Q: What advice can you give kids who want to write, too?

A: Read as much as you can. Writing is like anything else you want to do well: You have to practice it. Take a notebook and everyday write down things you feel strongly about in some way. Keep a journal – it’s a wonderful thing to do. You can start even before you write words, by putting down pictures.

Q: Are you still having fun?

A: I work in a barn by my house, and every morning I feel very lucky to be doing what I’m doing. It’s always a little amazing to see what’s happening in the outside world.

Tickets for “Arthur: A Live Adventure” range from $25.50 to $43. For more information, call (212) 247-4777.